Sharpener for flexible doubleedged razor blades



July 10, 1951 T. F. WILLIAMS 2,560,201

SHARPENER FOR FLEXIBLE DOUBLE-EDGED RAZOR BLADES Filed Oct. 19, 1948 INVENTOR. THOMAS EWILLIAMS Patented July 10, 1951 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHARPEN ER FOB, FLEXIBLE. DOUBLE- EDGED RAZOR BLADES Thomas F. Williams, Tamaqua, Pa.

Application October 19, 1948, Serial No. 55,402

3 Claims.

My invention relates to sharpeners for razor blades, and more particularly to sharpeners for flexible double-edged razor blades of the type including opposed pairs of cutting edges andv end edges. Specifically, the sharpener of the invention relates to means mounting the blade and means reciprocal relative to said mounting means for honing or sharpening the cutting edges of the blade.

With the foregoing in view, an object of my invention is to provide an improved sharpener for flexible double-edged razor blades.

A further object is to provide an improved sharpener of the class described which includes means providing seats for intermediate portions of the end edges of the blade to support the blade for the honing operation aforesaid.

A further object is to provide an improved sharpener of the class described which includes a pair of opposed end members providing said seats, and rigid frame members connecting the end members together and providing mounting means for the honing meansaforesaid.

A further object is to provide in a sharpener such as that last described a pair of recesses providing said seats and receiving the intermediate portions of a blade and edges therein upon flexing and straightening of the blade.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particularv structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the sharpener according to the invention showing a blade mounted therein;

Figure 2 is a view like Figure l, but showing the honing portions of the sharpener in the open position to permit the insertion and removal of a blade into or from the device;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 1, but on a slightly larger scale;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on a still larger scale and taken substantially on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference characters have been used throughout the several views to designate likeparts, I0 designates an open frame including a pair of opposed end members I l. Each of the end members is formed with an inwardly-directed seat I2 of a recessed character which is adapted to seat the end lips I3 of a conventional flexible doubleedged safety razor blade I4. The seats I2 are spaced apart a distance at least equal to the over-all length of the blade I4. Thus, to insert the blade I4 in the frame I6, it is necessary to first insert one lip I3 in one seat I2 and thereafter slightly flex the blade to reduce the length thereof and insert the opposite lip I3 in the oppositerecess or seat l2, Thereafter, the blade I4 is allowed to straighten out and is supported in the seats I2 between the end members II. 'In this connection, it is noted that the usual double cutting edges I5 terminate inwardly of the end members II for a purpose which will, be apparent later..

The end members I I are connected together in rigidly-spaced relation by at least one side member I6, whereby to provide an open rectangular frame. In the embodiment illustrated, a second side member Il connects opposite ends of the end members II to increase the rigidity of the frame. Likewise, as clearly shown in Figure 4, the side members I6 and I! are of. cylindrical configuration to slidably and rotatably mount the bones thereon now to be described. I

Thus, each hone includes a tubular slide I8 which is slidable and pivotal on one of the side members I6 or IT. Likewise, each hone includes a body portion I9 of concave configuration which is rigidly connected to the slide I8. The structure is such that one concave honing surface I9 is adapted to simultaneously engage one side of both cutting edges, while the other concave surface is adapted to simultaneously engage both opposite side edges of the cutting edges I5. As best seen in Figures 2 and 5, each honing surface at the end edges thereof is formed with alternate projections and recesses 20 and 2I, respectively, which are staggered so as to interfit in use, whereby to permit a close honing fit with the cutting edges I5 as the surfaces I 9 are moved toward each other. Likewise, the interengagement provides a wear take-up means.

In use, the bones are swung to the open position illustrated in Figure 2 and partially illustrated in broken lines in Figure 3, and a blade I4 is inserted in the frame It as aforesaid. Thereafter, the bones are swung t0 the closed or full line position of Figures 1, 3 and 4, so that the honing surfaces i9 engage the cutting edges I5 of the blade M in a well known manner. Thereafter, the bones are reciprocated relative to the frame l until the cutting edges l are sufficiently honed. Thereafter, the bones are swung to the open position and the blade [4 is removed as aforesaid.

The particular structure is obviously of small and compact nature, yet strong and sturdy in use, whereby to provide an efficient sharpener for razor blades of the class described. Moreover, while I have shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a sharpener for a flexible double edge razor blade, a frame including a pair of spaced end members and a pair of spaced side members arranged intermediate said end members and fixedly secured thereto, means on each of said end members engageable with the adjacent ends of said razor blade for supporting the latter, a first honing member having one end slidably supported on one of said side members and mounted on the latter for swinging movement into engagement with one face of said blade, and a second honing member having one end slidably supported on the other of said side members and mounted on the latter for swinging movement into engagement with the other face of said blade and confronting relation with respect to said first honing member.

2. In a sharpener for a flexible double edge razor blade, a frame including a pair of spaced end members and a pair of spaced side members arranged intermediate said end members and fixedly secured thereto, means on each of said end members engageable with the adjacent ends of said razor blade for supporting the latter, a first honing member having one end slidably supported on one of said side members and mounted on the latter for swinging movement into engagement with one face of said blade, and a second honing member having one end slidably supported on the other of said side members and mounted on the latter for swinging movement into engagement with the other face 4 of said blade and confronting relation with respect to said first honing member, each of said honing members comprising a body portion having a concaved honing surface adapted to engage the adjacent sides of both cutting edges of said blade when said honing members are in engagement with the faces of said blade.

3. In a sharpener for a flexible double edge razor blade, a frame including a pair of spaced end members and a pair of spaced side members arranged intermediate said end members and fixedly secured thereto, means on each of said end members engageable with the adjacent ends of said razor blade for supporting the latter, a first honing member having one end slidably supported on one of said side members and mounted on the latter for swinging movement into engagement with one face of said blade, a second honing member having one end slidably supported on the other of said side members and mounted on the latter for swinging movement into engagement with the other face of said blade and confronting relation with respect to said first honing member, each of said honing members comprising a body portion having a concaved honing surface adapted to engage the adjacent sides of both cutting edges of said blade when said honing members are in engagement with the faces of said blade, and interengaging means carried on said honing members and engageable with each other upon movement of said honing members into engagement with said blade for efiecting a close honing fit with the cutting edges of said blade.

THOMAS F. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 928,318 Mitchell July 20, 1909 2,048,868 Johnston July 28, 1936 2,351,438 Levy June 13, 1944 2,452,094 Bergman Oct. 26, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 744,605 France Jan. 26, 1933 

